We will all have to drastically alter our lifestyles and the longer we wait the harder it'll be

I agree, but that is really hard. It only comes by force.

Why? They will and already are leading the charge on automation. Most people's jobs can be automated.

In this way, the US is like the Antebellum South, preferring servants driving their economy instead of adopting advances in tech, like the "North" in this metaphor (Japan) forced the necessity of creating.

Soon their pension and other systems in place to support their aging population will not be able to be supported by those working. Where will the money come from? There needs to be someone there to work. The labor force has to come from somewhere.

There are a lot of immigrants looking for jobs. Billions.

So Japan needs more people because their pension system is unsustainable. And when all the immigrants who came in get old, Japan will need even more immigration to make up for the immigration they had before, and all the new pensioners.

This is not sustainable. This is a Ponzi scheme. Continually kicking the can down the road.

this is how every country has functioned for many, many years. acting like it is something ridiculous is stupid.

Or they'll reassess the pension commitments. People may vote to reduce pension by 50%.